Hotels Near the Empire State Building: A Midtown South Guide
The Empire State Building is at 20 West 34th Street. Hotels near the Empire State Building sit in a very handy part of Midtown, close to the subway and a long list of restaurants. Here is how to pick.
Quick answer
Hotels from 28th to 36th Streets, Fifth to Eighth Avenue, all work. The area is walkable, central and often cheaper than Times Square. Book early for summer and holidays.
Where it is
The building fills the Fifth Avenue block between 33rd and 34th Streets. It opened in 1931.
This part of Midtown is called Midtown South. It sits between Herald Square and the Flatiron area.
Why stay in hotels near the Empire State Building
Herald Square has eight lines: B, D, F, M, N, Q, R and W. The 6 is a few blocks east, at 33rd Street and Park Avenue.
Walk about ten minutes west to Penn Station and Madison Square Garden. Time it from your hotel. Koreatown on West 32nd Street is right around the corner.
Streets to look at
Stay on a side street if you want quiet. Fifth Avenue and 34th Street are busy day and night.
Koreatown has late-night food. The blocks south toward 28th Street are calmer and feel more like a neighborhood.
Nearby
Penn Station is covered in our hotels near Penn Station page. For game and concert nights, see hotels near Madison Square Garden.
Grand Central is a longer walk east, about twenty minutes. See hotels near Grand Central.
Before you book
Ask which side of the building you face. A view of the tower is a bonus.
Compare totals, not nightly rates. Taxes and fees add up.
Book your stay
Time to book. Check live prices on the hotel search page, build your days with the trip planner and find a table on the food map.
Best Empire State Building Hotels, Bryant Park Stays, and Hotel Deals in Midtown
Staying at one of the top hotels near Empire State Building puts you at the crossroads of Fifth Avenue, 34th Street, and NoMad in Midtown Manhattan. Because the Empire State Building rises right above Herald Square and KoreaTown, guests booking Empire State Building hotels enjoy immediate access to multiple subway stations (including the B, D, F, M, N, Q, R, W, and 6 lines) while staying within easy walking distance of Penn Station and Madison Square Garden.
Comparing Hotels Near Empire State Building With Free Breakfast and Modern Amenities
When previous guests rate properties near Empire State Building, they consistently highlight boutique stays along Fifth Avenue and 31st to 36th Streets—as well as the highly rated Park Terrace Hotel overlooking Bryant Park—for combining rich history with modern amenities, fast Wi-Fi, and upper-floor terrace views of the illuminated Empire State spire. Many family-friendly hotels near Empire State also include free breakfast and flexible check in policies that help reduce your daily food budget.
Walking Distance to Madison Square Garden, Times Square, and Central Park
From any lobby near the State Building, you can walk ten minutes north to Bryant Park, fifteen minutes northwest to Times Square, or ride the subway straight up to Central Park in under ten minutes. To lock in the strongest hotel deals around the Empire State Building, compare weekday corporate rates against weekend leisure discounts and verify whether rooftop lounges offer direct views of the Empire State tower lights.
Travelers who compare weekday corporate rates against weekend leisure pricing across Midtown Manhattan, Chelsea, SoHo, and the Upper West Side routinely save fifteen to twenty-five percent on comparable four-star rooms.
If your flight or train arrives hours before standard three o-clock check-in, nearly every full-service New York hotel bell desk will store your bags free of charge so you can start exploring Central Park, Fifth Avenue, or the High Line right away.
For families and small groups sharing a room, requesting a higher floor away from street-facing elevators and confirming whether two queen beds or a sofa sleeper are guaranteed in writing prevents surprises at the front desk.
Using contactless OMNY tap-to-pay at subway turnstiles and crosstown buses also caps your weekly transit spend automatically, making it simple to ride between Uptown museums, Broadway theaters, and Brooklyn waterfront parks without buying paper farecards.
Whether you are visiting New York City for a quick forty-eight-hour weekend getaway or a full week of sightseeing, balancing iconic observation decks and Broadway shows with unhurried neighborhood walks through Greenwich Village, the West Village, and DUMBO creates a memorable trip.
During peak autumn foliage weeks in October and the December holiday season around Rockefeller Center, reserving timed-entry observation deck tickets and pre-theater dinner tables ten to fourteen days in advance saves hours of waiting in line.
Visitors staying in Midtown East, Murray Hill, or near Grand Central Terminal also enjoy fast crosstown bus connections and direct access to the East River Ferry landings at East 34th Street and Wall Street Pier 11.
When packing for a multi-day stay in Manhattan, bringing a portable phone battery, a compact umbrella, and broken-in walking sneakers ensures you stay comfortable from morning museum hours at the Met through late-night jazz sets in the Village.
Checking the official MTA Weekender service map on Friday afternoon helps you spot any scheduled weekend subway track maintenance.
Practical Tips for First-Time and Returning New York Visitors
Common questions
What hotels are near the Empire State Building?
Look on 28th to 36th Street between Fifth and Eighth Avenue. Check walking time on a map.
Is the Empire State Building near Penn Station?
Yes. A short walk west. Time it from your hotel.
Is the Empire State Building near Times Square?
About fifteen minutes on foot, or a short subway ride from Herald Square.
Which subway stops are closest?
34th Street-Herald Square, and the 6 train at 33rd Street.
Is it a good area for first-timers?
Yes. It is central, walkable and well connected.
Keep reading
Hotels near Penn Station · Hotels near Madison Square Garden · Hotels near Grand Central · NYC hotels map · Trip planner